So I think I blew the head gasket...

[slingblade16]

Greetings all!

It figures that after I got the girl running after changing out the fuel pump, that now I have yet another show stopper.
While teaching my youngest to drive a stick shift, light white sweet smelling smoke started coming out of the exhaust pipe...
It does not smoke while cool, but when it heats up the smoking starts and gets worse.

So I'm not the most experienced mechanic at all, but consider myself reasonably competent.
How tough is it to change out the head gasket on a 1981 FJ60?
I imagine it is quite expensive since it would involve quite a bit of labor.

If it is not too tough I might do it, and if I do can you guys recommend a thread or article that takes it step by step?

Thanks guys.
It's good that I only have my son's car's headlights to worry about this weekend in the meantime.
Cheers!
-Matt

 

[cruiserpilot]

Bummer. Did you look in the oil on the dipstick for signs of coolant. Open the rad cap and look
for oil, which is far more likely. Best to confirm. Drain the oil.
Do you have the tools? All the sockets and a good torque wrench? It can be done in the truck, its a bit
of a process but certainly doable if you want.

 

[OSS]

I removed my cylinder head to get refurbished and of course replaced the head gasket too — when I was 27 years old. I had never worked on a car before.
I didn’t have any tools, so I went to Sears and got them.

The cylinder head is very heavy- 82 lbs. So really the safest way to hoist it off the engine block is with an engine hoist or makeshift lift.
I’ve had mine off 3 times in 35 years and muscled it each time - but I don’t recommend doing that. Too heavy.

 

[Fj80oregon]

Do a coolant block test, relatively cheep at any auto parts store.
Block Tester BT-500 Head Gasket Combustion Leak Test Kit - Made in USA Amazon.com - https://a.co/d/5JOBLVk

 

[mdw83fj60]

When I got my 83 FJ60 I never had done anything beyond oil changes on a vehicle. My head developed a crack a little over a year ago and I decided I would tackle it. My suggestion do it your self, I read and reread every bit of information on MUD I could find and when not sure ask questions. I read through the FSM and jumped in head first. Was it difficult, at times but I just took it slow and stayed organized in my approach. In the end I learned a ton about my rig and I know it was done right and the correct parts were installed. After replacing the head it bust my confidence to handle just about anything that comes up now, did all new brakes recently replace AC system, power steering pump etc…… the list goes on. Again just go for it you will learn so much about your rig.

 

[slingblade16]

Good evening all!
So after a few more test runs and the coolant and oil all appearing normal, it appears this was just carbon being burned off after I dumped some cleaner in the tank!
Whew!
I drove the rig around all day today and had no issues!
Thanks all for the help!